Trials involving an innovative robotic troop support platform for the United States military are set to take place in coming months, in light of a multi-million contract awarded at the start of February to the company responsible for its creation.

Together, the USMC (US Marine Corps) and DARPA – the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency – have supplied $32 million for Boston Dynamics’ LS3 (Legged Squad Support System) to be developed over the next two-and-a-half years.

LS3: Legged Squad Support System

According to information provided on the firm’s website, the Legged Squad Support System is capable of crossing terrain in parallel with US troops. In other words – where they go – LS3 will be able to go, too. It will be able to carry loads weighing up to 400 pounds, and cover distances of 20 miles on a single sortie without the need to refuel.

LS3 will also incorporate sensor technology to aid with directional ability.

LS3 is very much a follow-on to Boston Dynamics’ well-known ‘BigDog’ quadruped robot design. According to company founder Marc Raibert, LS3 is basically "BigDog on steroids”, albeit with “a higher level of maturity in terms of system and autonomous operation.”

LS3: Military Robot

In terms of the impact that this military robot technology could have on deployed US service personnel, Mr Raibert detailed a number of advantages. “If LS3 can offload 50 lbs from the back of each solider in a squad, it will reduce war-fighter injuries and fatigue and increase the combat effectiveness of our troops”, he said.

Boston Dynamics was established in 1992 as an off-shoot of MIT – the Boston-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Among its other robotic projects are LittleDog and RISE: a robot capable of scaling vertical surfaces.

Towards the end of 2009, Armed Forces International reported on another US military robot design – the Future Precision Urban Hopper. Boston Dynamics is involved in the construction aspect of this technology, and the introduction of the Hopper into US military service should occur later this year.

LS3 image courtesy of Boston Dynamics (C) 2009